A Clean Slate

Nick Caccavone

3 months ago

David Moyes cut a calm, assured figure when he was officially announced as West Ham’s 16th manager. He was quite pragmatic and chose his words wisely. This wasn’t a battle cry, more a statement of intent. With many of the senior squad away on International Duty it’s given him a chance to work with the remaining few and the Under 23’s.

Double training sessions have already been implemented. He’s already laid down the law along the lines of, if you don’t train hard you won’t play, as well as attitude and application.

He’ll need a reaction from the squad starting with his first match away at Watford on 19th November. We have 27 games to play. 14 home and 13 away. With a possible 81 points available there’s still plenty of time and opportunity to start getting some on the board. We have nine games against the teams occupying the top six places. It would be great to nick a few points out of those 27 available.

The crucial games are those of the teams around us. 54 points up for grabs from the other 18 matches. If we win six lose six and draw six, that’s 24 points added to our current total of 9. The points squandered in recent matches at Burnley and Crystal Palace looking very costly.

We need to hit the ground running starting with at least a point against Watford. I reckon we’ll get another 39 points which should take us to mid-table security. Our games fall into little pockets. The next three winnable, Watford away, Leicester home and Everton away. Our next three fixtures are a little more daunting, Manchester City away followed by two home ties against Chelsea and Arsenal respectively. The next ten matches will define our season. There’s still so much to play for and providing Mr Moyes can get the team playing and winning I feel optimistic that we’ll pull away from the relegation zone. He has a point to prove and knows that this is Last Chance Saloon as far as the Premier League goes. He’ll come in with fresh ideas and an open mind into team selection. It looks like egos and attitude won’t be acceptable, hard work, application and dedication will.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for squad and fringe players to catch the manager’s eye. Everybody will be judged on what they put in on the training field as to whether they get to play or not.

It’s worth remembering that Wayne Rooney was given his debut as a 16-year-old when Moyes managed Everton. That must be encouraging news for Antonio Martinez, Declan Rice and Sead Haksabanovic to name a few. I didn’t see a magic wand at the press conference, I saw a thoughtful honest guy who could be a blessing in disguise for an unfit, low in confidence bunch of talented players. If he can find the right formula and system there’s no reason why we can’t string together a few good results and head up the table.

Hopefully we’ll see a more tactical, organised team who know where they’re playing and what their role is. It’s unlikely we’ll see Antonio at right back and Hernandez on the wing. What we should see is a team of grafters giving it 100% for the next 27 games. It’s what David Moyes will demand and we as supporters expect. I think the mood has changed with his appointment and supporters seem to have a suck it and see opinion. Let’s face it we’re stuck with him now so we should only but get behind him and the team.

Whether The London Stadium will be rocking to “Super Moyes” remains to be seen. So far Moyes has said what we want to hear. Let’s get behind him and the team. It’s time for the players to deliver starting with a performance and hopefully 3 points next Sunday.